President Armacost names interim leadership team for Division of Finance & Operations
President Armacost today (Tuesday, June 30) announced an interim leadership team to oversee the Division of Finance & Operations after current Vice President for Finance & Operations/Chief Operations Officer Karla Mongeon-Stewart departs for a new role with the North Dakota University System next month.
Armacost has selected Associate Vice President for Finance Odella Fuqua, Associate Vice President for Human Resources Peggy Varberg and Associate Vice President for Public Safety and University Police Chief Rodney Clark to serve as interim vice presidents for finance & operations during the transition to a permanent successor for Mongeon-Stewart. A national search for Mongeon-Stewart’s replacement is expected.
Under the plan, the interim triumvirate will manage different departments and responsibilities currently under the purview of the VPFO/COO:
- Fuqua will oversee finance, including budget and contracts, capital projects, procurement & payment services, and University policy.
- Varberg will continue to lead human resources along with Community & Belonging, Civil Rights & Title IX, and the Chester Fritz Performing Arts Center.
- Clark will lead operations, adding management of campus facilities to his public safety and chief of police portfolio.
Each interim vice president will report directly to the president, serve on the president’s Executive Council and work collaboratively to ensure unity and consistency across the entire division.
Mongeon-Stewart announced in May that she would be departing UND to assume the role of deputy commissioner and chief financial and administrative officer with the NDUS. She has been at UND for 11 years and has served as VPFO/COO since 2022. Her last day at UND will be Wednesday, July 15.
A farewell reception for Mongeon-Stewart is scheduled to take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, in the Gransberg Room of the Gorecki Alumni Center.
